Taj Bekal Resort & Spa, Kerala

The moon rafting was one of the highlights, absolutely beautiful. The food was excellent at every meal, consistently well prepared and full of flavor. The team also went the extra mile to make our birthday request feel special, and their attention and warmth made a real difference. We had a wonderful, relaxing stay at Taj Bekal Fort. Everything went smoothly, and the property was beautiful, peaceful, and thoughtfully maintained. It was a memorable visit, and we'd happily come back.

Loved the clean beach at Kaapil beach, which you can reach through a private entry from Taj. The kids enjoyed it, and we had a great time with the zipline too. Moon light rafting was a unique experience, unlike anything I've seen at other properties. The staff were polite and helpful. It's a beautiful Taj property surrounded by nature and backwaters, one of the best we've visited. The food was great, though I'd suggest adding more coastal cuisine. There's room to improve the options, but no major complaints.

We came back after 10 years and were even more impressed this time. The food was brilliant, much better than on our previous visit. The lavish breakfast buffets were lovely, though we only had one dinner buffet and usually ordered à la carte since we can't manage several buffet meals in a day. Ms. Swagatha and Mr Amir at the restaurant were attentive and remembered what we liked. The hot phulkas were excellent. The Jiva Spa, now re-branded to just ‘J’, was superb again. We spent 120 minutes in bliss, and the jacuzzi there is my favourite. Our room was extremely comfortable, with a day bed looking out over the tranquil backwaters. We enjoyed the birdsong in the quiet mornings and took a stroll on the beach. The mattresses were excellent, and the thin pillow I requested helped me get the best sleep I've had in recent times. We were welcomed warmly and checked in seamlessly. Thank you, Team Taj and their GM. We've come home with great memories.

The dining situation frustrated me enough to affect the stay, even though the hotel's amenities and services exceeded expectations. I told them about my dietary needs when we arrived and had opted for full board, meaning 3 meals. Providing basic vegan meals and some dessert options shouldn't have been difficult, but the experience felt neglected and inconvenient. I only got dessert at dinner on the last night. I've travelled extensively across India and have had better experiences with dietary requirements at other brands. For a hotel of this standard, I expected more flexibility and hospitality.